Why are firearm prices here so low?

[BridgeTooFar]

Not that I'm complaining.

But, I've never understood it. I just bought a new Marlin 336C from Sportsmen's Warehouse (couldn't find a plain-jane one like I wanted in my local store). Before I went up to the store, I checked prices on GunBroker.com. The store's price was about $45-$50 less than those on GunBroker.com and about $35 less than those on BudsGunShop.com (counting tax for the store and counting shipping and transfer fees for the online prices). I would expect that Sportsmen's Warehouse is generally going to have the same prices across all their stores, so it was a little unexpected that the price was lower there than on GunBroker.com.

My real question is why is this the case? I live in the midlands of SC (which is in the back yard of Ellett Brothers (one of, I am told, the biggest firearms distributors at least in the Southeast), so maybe that has something to do with it (proximity makes shipping cheaper; less state lines to cross to get a particular gun means less tax; etc.). It could be that our state/area has a lower median income level, so they have to keep their prices lower to accommodate that and move merchandise.

Just something that's been bouncing around in the back of my mind for a while now that I'd like to maybe hear some thoughts on.

 

[jnyork]

In my experience, GB is the place to go when you are truely desperate and have no other place to shop. Prices there are usually, to put it lightly, very optomistic on the part of the seller. Then again, if you are looking for something unusual or exotic or out of production and have no worries over price, it is a good source.

 

[Quick Karl]

I am not a fan of GunBroker... too may folks that are, ahemm, way too proud of what they are selling.

I love Sportman's Warehouse though - for the most part they always seem to have the best prices of any retailer I've been able to find.

 

[average_shooter]

I think Sportsman's Warehouse in general has better prices than most other retailers. That was my experience when they were still here in MN. I'm still a bit miffed that they closed down my "local" Sportsman's here while Gander Mtn. across the street has ridiculously high prices.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I quit going to gander mountain. I kept coming back thinking this time the prices will be in line......NOPE. There's no point in even checking. I'll bet that something could be in Gander Mountain on Clearance, and still be higher.

 

[Black Dime]

I will not buy at Gander Mountain. Maybe we should all vow to get a good price documented and.....

Low Price Guarantee
You won’t pay less anywhere else. We guarantee it!

Catalog or Web purchase only:
We will match any direct competitor’s printed catalog price within 30 days of your purchase! This offer applies to all in stock, regular priced merchandise.

"printed catalog price" may be difficult at Clem's Hardware.

 

[DCR]

Lucky you!

IMO, Gunbroker and AuctionArms are not high. Look at the closed auctions and what the winning bid was - that's more of an objective measure of fair market value than the Bluebook or what people think a gun is worth or ought to cost: it's what a willing buyer paid a willing seller, not a subjective opinion or abstraction. We buy lots of unique and classic firearms from these sites because in many parts of the country, certain models and calibers thereof are scarce and therefore command a premium price at the local level, whereas on GB or AA, depending on where the seller is, a gun can be found more reasonably than in our local area.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Profit through volume. Maybe some contract pricing.

Kind of like a convenience store. Cheaper gas, but $1.50 a soda, $1.25 snickers bar.

Sell a weapon with a slight profit, make a higher margin on ammo, targets, sling, case, rings, scope...